Amusement device



C.'JOHNSON. AMUSEMENT DEVICE;

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1920- 1,376,886. Patent ay-13; 1921.

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UNITED stares earner, UQEFEQE.

CHARLEY JOHNSON, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF T0 CHARLES WJPARKER, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed February 24, 1920. Serial No. 360,714.

This invention relates to improvements in-amusement devices and more particularly to amusement devices wherein rollers are arranged radially with respect to a central point to support a continuous, circularly moving belt in such a manner that people may be carried thereon, and which also comprises an inclined chute which leads downwardly from an elevated loading platform, and a similar-chute leads from the belt to a receiving pad, whereby those who ride are loaded onto the belt at one point and carried or removed therefrom at anotherpoint.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is in no way dangerous to those who use it and which will afford pleasure and recreation without discomfort.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a circularly moving belt of novel construction, together with means for supporting, driving and tensioning the same, and loading and unloading chutes which add to the amusement of the device.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an amusement device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, particularly illustrating the loading and unloading chutes leadlng respectively to and from the belt.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view of the belt and a supporting roller for the same.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the belt driving roller and the tensioning mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings; 1 designates a circularly formed, endless belt, of a flexible character, which is supported by a plurality of rollers 2, arranged radially with respect to a central point, and supported by trunnions at their opposite ends, mounted in bearings 3 at the upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

ends of standards 4; the latter being secured on any suitable foundation or base, as indicated at 5.

It is preferred to arrange the supporting rollers in such manner and at such height that, from the loading point, the belt will move in a spirally inclined direction through approximately three hundred degrees of the clrcle to the unloading point, and from there it will move on an incline upwardly to the initial point.

The belt may be made of any suitable material .which has the necessary flexibility v and durability, and may consist of slats 7, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, which are placed close together in radial arrangement and bound together by means of belts of leather or the like, as indicated at 8, all of which are then covered by a layer of padding 9, for the protection and comfort of those who 7 ride.

Vertical rollers 10 are preferably mounted on the standards supporting the inner ends of the rollers 2, which will engage the inner j i periphery of the moving belt to retain it properly in-position. r

As a means whereby the belt may be driven, I have provided the same at its inner and outer peripheral edges, with sprocket chains 15, and have equipped the lowest of the rollers, 2, with sprocket wheels 16, as illustrated in Fig. 4, which travel in the chains. A driving shaft 18 extends from this roller, which may be attached to any suitable driving mechanism whereby the roller may be revolved to advance the belt.

The means for tensioning the belt comprises a roller 20, which is mounted revolubly at the upper ends of a pair of supporting arms 21, which are pivotally securedat their lower ends to support this roller below the sprocketed driving roller. The belt 1 passes over the driving roller, then is turned back to pass over and about the tensioning roller and from there continues to the highest of the supporting rollers. The tension of the belt is adjusted by the tightening or loosening of turn buckles 25, interposed between the sections 26, 27 of connecting rods, which are attached at opposite ends, respectively, to fixed parts of the platform 5 and to the swinging ends of the arms 21.

At one side of the belt, adjacent its highleading thereto is a stairway 31 whereby people may mount the platform, and leading from the said platform is a downwardly inclined chute 32 wherein the people may slide from the platform onto the belt, to be carried thereby to the unloading point.

Adjacent the tensioning roller I have provided an unloading chute 36, which has a receiving end extended to such position adjaoent the lower edge of the driving roller that a person riding on the belt will be discharged, as the belt passes beneath the roller, onto this said receiving end. The chute curves outwardly and downwardly from the receiving end and terminates just above a receiving pad 40 whereon the rider will be discharged.

' it is desired to provide a continuous belt that While the belt shown extends but once about the axial point, I do not wlsh to be limlted to but one turn, as in some instances will extend spirally a plurality of times about a vertical axis, or even in other forms, such as in the form of the figure 8- WVith the device so constructed it will be seen that persons may mount the belt by walking up the stairway to the platform and then sliding down the chute 32. The clownwardly moving belt then carries them around the circle and delivers them onto the receiving end of the chute 36 from which they are discharged onto the receiving pad.

it is apparent that the incline of the belt could be made such that no driving mechanism be needed but the belt would be moved 7 by the weight of those who rode thereon.

It is also apparent that changes 1n from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Anamusement device of the character described comprising a continuous conveyer belt adapted to move spirally downward about a vertical axis under theintluence of .weight placed thereon, means. whereby people may mount the belt at a high pointof its course to be carried thereon toward the lower point, and a chute for receiving them from the belt t said lower point to remove them from the belt.

v 2. An amusement device of the character described comprising in combination, an elevated platform a receiving pad, a continu ous conveyer belt adapted to move spirally downwardly between the said platform and pad, a chute leading downwardly fromthe platform to discharge onto the belt at its highest point and a chute for receiving from the belt at its lowest point to discharge onto the pad.

3. An amusement device of the character described comprising horizontally mounted rollers arranged radially about a vertical axis to form a spiral track, a continuous conveyer belt mounted to move downwardly along said spiral track, an' elevated platform, a chute leading from said platform to discharge onto the belt at a high point of the track, a chute adapted to receive from the'belt at a low point of the track, and a receiving pad at the discharge end of the latter chute.

"5F Signed at Seattle, WVashington, this 7th -l-fiday of February, struction could be made without departingffi 1920. V CHARLEY JOHNSON. 

